Chapter 1- An Awkward Date
Fluttershy was tending to her animals on the Thursday morning. It was Hearts Warming and that meant that each animal would get a treat. Fluttershy loved Hearts Warming, it was a perfect day to sing and enjoy her time. She could see the love in the air and the happy feeling everypony had around. Some of her animals were hanging out in the backyard and all over the house to spend their time with their mates.
She poured herself a glass of water. There was a sudden knock on the door and Fluttershy hurried over to open the door. She didn’t want to disturb any of her animals from their dates. She would have to convince whoever it was to talk to her outside, in her front yard instead. Of course, only if the other pony agreed.
A bouquet of flowers was shoved under her nose, making her squeak and jump back a bit. She looked up to meet the magenta eyes.
The other pony chuckled nervously, “Uhhh... Sorry Fluttershy, I was kind of nervous.”
Fluttershy gave her friend a smile, “Hi Rainbow, it’s alright. If you’ve come to talk, I’m afraid that my animals are currently enjoying Hearts Warming so we’ll have to talk outside.” Rainbow gave a small nod, very unlike her, and the two ponies trotted outside, the door swinging behind them.
When they sat together in the front, Rainbow gulped, “So Flutters... I uhhh... I’m sure you’re wondering about the flowers.”
Fluttershy gave a nod and admitted, “Just a bit.”
“They’re for you! Pretty awesome right?”
“For me?”
“Yeah! And I uhhhh... I’m wondering if you would be my Hearts Warming pony.” Rainbow finished and gulped, averting her eyes for a moment. Fluttershy froze in shock at her best friend’s words, not sure about what to say. She didn’t like Rainbow, not in that way. But Rainbow was being pretty nice and Rainbow was her best friend. Oh no... Rainbows’ waiting for a reply. I can’t break her heart today. I just can’t bear it. I’ll... I’ll...
Rainbow nervously chuckled, “Uhhh... this is kinda awkward.”
Fluttershy replied, “Rainbow, I... I’m willing to give you a chance but I want you to know that-“
“YES! OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH!” Rainbows’ wings flapped quickly without even lifting her body from the ground, “I PROMISE THAT YOU WON’T REGRET IT! I’ll bring you to lunch in ten!” Before Fluttershy could even finish her sentence, Rainbow bolted off. The only sign that she had ever been there was a fading trail of rainbow.
Fluttershy stopped talking, knowing that Rainbow wouldn’t hear her. I hope that everything will be alright.
The yellow pegasus gathered up the flowers and put them near a flowerbed. After ten minutes, Rainbow flew back. Fluttershy could spot a few beads of sweat on the other pony’s forehead.
“I just made a reservation at your favorite restaurant. The vegetables only place, right?”
Surprised that Rainbow had remembered, Fluttershy gave a nod, “Yes.”
As the two walked, Rainbow said, “Anyways, thanks for agreeing to be my special somepony. I liked you for years. I know right? The great Rainbow Dash can’t even ask anypony out...” Fluttershy opened her mouth in the middle of Rainbow’s sentence before closing it. She couldn’t break Rainbow’s heart when Rainbow felt low. It wasn’t right of her.
But when else could she do it?
Fluttershy opened her mouth once more, “R-Rainbow... I-I...”
“We’re here! Let’s go and grab the seats real quick.” Rainbow hovered in the air as Fluttershy trotted to the table.
Rainbow said, “I’ll grab some grub for both of us.”
Fluttershy replied, her voice low, “You don’t need to. Rainbow, I... I said that I was giving you a chance so if I...”
“Well, I better make the best of this, shouldn’t I? No low moods today. I’ll be right back.” Rainbow disappeared into the crowds before appearing ‘ten seconds flat’ back to the table. The rainbow maned pegasus gave Fluttershy her favorite foods stacked up before digging into her own plate of more of the unhealthy stuff they had, such as french fried dipped in a lot of ketchup.
Fluttershy winced as Rainbow looked back up with an empty plate, a burp, and ketchup all over her face.
“S’cuse me,” Rainbow said after the burp.
“Here,” Fluttershy gave Rainbow a few napkins. Rainbow wiped her face quickly and only taints of red remained on her face. Fluttershy slowly ate her food, not wanting to give herself a stomachache.
Rainbow commented, “I really like the French fries here.”
Fluttershy replied with an one word answer, “Me too.” Fluttershy actually didn’t really like the French fries but didn’t want to disagree with her friend either.
Rainbow complimented, “I really like your hair today.” Fluttershy quietly thanked her. The two fell into an awkward silence as the lunch continued.
After the lunch ended - with Rainbow paying -, the two trotted outside, both of them carefully not looking at each other.
Rainbow finally cleared her throat, “So... wanna see a Sonic Rainboom?”
Fluttershy winced, knowing that all her animals would panic without her if a large explosion occurred, “No, I rather not. Sorry.”
Rainbow kissed her quickly on the cheek and Fluttershy shrinked away, not wanting to go that fast. Now, Rainbow wasn’t the most observant pony of all times but she knew a thing or two about body language. Especially about flying. And Fluttershy of course.
Rainbow asked, “Is something wrong? Did I do something...?”
Fluttershy muttered, “Sorry.”
“So what’s wrong?”
“I...” Fluttershy started, knowing that this might be her only chance, “I don’t...”
“What?”
Fluttershy finally shouted, “I don’t love you! I’m sorry! I just don’t!” Rainbow stood there gaping as Fluttershy had tears brimming in her eyes. The animal lover ran away, muttering and repeating, ‘I’m sorry’, as tears ran down her face.
Rainbow stood there for a little bit longer. Sniffing a bit but trying not to cry, she quickly flew at Rainboom speeds back to her cloud home.
Just as the Fluttershy managed to make it back to her house, Rainbow slammed the front door and dropped her facade, tearing up.
Chapter 2- The Usual Ending But The Author Doesn’t Care
Why am I so stupid? I should’ve known that she was uncomfortable. I thought she was excited and I took things too far. She hates me now. We were friends and I ruined it. I should’ve payed more attention. I should’ve been a better friend.
Rainbow was on her cloud, remorsing about the day. Now that she thought about it, she should’ve had been so stupid, so vain, so hopeful that Fluttershy was going to return her feelings. Rainbow had only hurt their relationship, maybe forever.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
“What did you do?”
“Huh?” Rainbow shot up and looked around quickly. Her eyes landed on some chocolate raincloud... milkshakes?
“Want one?” A milkshake appeared in front of her.
There was only one thing that sounded like that or had an addiction with chocolate milk. Glaring, she looked up, “Discord. What are you doing here?”
“Welll, I went to Fluttershy’s to give her some chocolate and I noticed tears. She told me everything, dear Rainbow. Now, Celestia told me to go to her palace to drink some tea or whatever so I have to go. But by the time I get back, Fluttershy better not be crying because of you.” Discord disappeared in a flash. Rainbow blinked, she didn’t expect him to sound so threatening, especially over a matter such as this. Was Discord- no, Rainbow refused to think of it.
There were probably some chaos rules so Discord couldn’t do it either way. Still, Rainbow didn’t want to push her chances on the threat part, knowing first hoofed how Discord was like during the maze. No matter what, she still didn’t trust Discord.
Even if Discord didn’t threaten her to go to Fluttershy’s, Rainbow knew that they were going to have to meet at the castle the next morning for some friendship duties. She wasn’t even a princess! Unfortunately, Twilight said that all the Elements of Harmony would have to make the stronger decisions, since they represented harmony in some way. Better to go now than have the whole awkward situation.
She flapped her wings and went to Fluttershy’s cottage, not sure about what to say. Rainbow was a doer type of pony, not a diplomat. Those things were left to Twilight.
“Fluttershy?” Rainbow knocked on the door with her hoof, “You there?”
“Y-Yes...”
Rainbow could her Fluttershy’s sniffles. She opened the door and saw Fluttershy lying on the couch, without any sign of happiness in her. Even if she didn’t have a crush on Fluttershy, this would’ve still broke her heart.
“Flutters, I uh... I shouldn’t have just left like that.”
“It’s okay Rainbow.”
“Mind if we continue being best friends then? I kinda want for us to become special someponies,” Rainbow could practically hear Applejack screaming her name before she added, “But I know that you’re not comfortable and I’ll try to respect it.”
Fluttershy leapt from the couch, “Rainbow, we’ll never stop being friends. I’m the one who’s sorry. I should’ve told you from the very beginning exactly. I was too shy and now we both must pay for it. And I-“
“Fluttershy, that’s enough. Let’s both split the guilt evenly, alright?”
“But I... Okay... And I wondered if you would like to join my picnic with my animals tonight. If you want of course, I know that it’s not your type of thing.”
Rainbow teased, “Geez, planning a date?”
“No! I mean, of course not but I uh- I didn’t mean-“
Rainbow used her hoof to stop Fluttershy from rambling (a rare occasion), “Okay okay. Calm yourself down. I was just teasing you like any friend would do. And yeah, I’ll go to your picnic. It’s the least I can do. Just don’t blame me if I get bored.”
“In that case... you don’t have to go if you don’t want...”
“Just a joke, Flutters.”
“Oh.”
“Wanna see a Sonic Rainboom?” Rainbow asked the animals with excitement. It was the picnic in the night. Nopony really performed for critters before. Even Tank was there, slowly cheering her on. Fluttershy gave a small nod with a small smile, knowing that her animals would enjoy it.
Speeding through the air, Rainbow created a beautiful Sonic Rainboom before creating a rainbow in the sky. As she landed, the animals cheered and waved their tea cups of various sizes into the air. Well, besides Angel Bunny but every animal could tell that the bunny was in a good mood, with some lack of arguing and demand.
“Wooo,” Fluttershy cheered at her normal cheering voice volume. Rainbow had a smile from ear to ear. Her frazzled mane from all the flying suddenly felt wet. Wet from...? She looked up to see Discord holding a smiling chocolate raincloud on top of her head.
He snapped his claws and the chocolate milk disappeared.
Fluttershy beamed at him, “Discord, it’s nice to see you. How was your tea with Celestia’s?”
Discord grinned, “It was nice to see some of her expressions during our tea party but she invited me to see some magic. If I didn’t know her, I would call her mini Twilight (he changed his head to look like Twilight’s). But the tea was nothing compared to your tea, of course dear Fluttershy.”
“I’m glad that you enjoyed yourself.”
“So, I see that you’re not crying anymore. You two made up?”
“Of course! True friends never break apart for long.”
Rainbow said, wanting to get out of Discord’s presence, “Anyways, I gotta go and practice some moves for this weekend’s Wonderbolt show. Bye.” She zoomed out of the window.
Discord commented, “Well, she seemed to be in a hurry.” Fluttershy only smiled in response.
Author's Note
And that’s it. I hope that you enjoyed the small story.
